>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,”
(1976) Vol. 6, pp.154-155.
RONQUIL
Ronquil: A spiny-finned fish found along the
northwest coast of North America. It has a single dorsal
fin and a large mouth and resembles the tropical jawfish.
SS-396
Displacement:
Surfaced: 1,525 t.
Submerged: 1,810 t.
Length: 311’8”
Beam: 27’3”
Draft: 15’3”
Speed:
Surfaced: 20 k.
Submerged: 9 k.
Complement: 81
Armament: 1 5”; 1 40mm; 1 20mm; 2 MG; 10 21” torpedo tubes
Class: BALAO
RONQUIL (SS-396) was laid down 9 September 1943 at the
Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H.; launched 27 January 1944,
sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Elder; and commissioned 22 April
1944, Lt. Comdr. H. S. Monroe in command
After shakedown off the New England coast, RONQUIL
sailed for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 8 July
1944 and, after preparatory training, sailed on her first
war patrol (31 July-8 September 1944) in the northeastern
Formosa-Sakishima Gunto area. On 24 August the submarine
sank two attack cargo ships, YOSHIDA MARU NO. 3 (4,646 tons)
and FUKUREI MARU (5,969 tons). RONQUIL's second war patrol,
from 30 September to 28 November 1944, was carried out in
two phases. She first operated with a coordinated submarine
attack group in the Bungo Suido area, and then joined six
other submarines to carry out an antipatrol ship sweep off
the Bonin Islands. On her third war patrol, from 1 January
to 14 February 1945, RONQUIL patrolled the Bonins and did
lifeguard duty in that area for Army bombers hitting the
Japanese home islands. Her fourth war patrol from 11 March
to 23 April 1945, brought her no worthwhile enemy targets
but resulted in the rescue of 10 Army aviators from a B-29
bomber downed between the Bonins and Japan. The submarine's
fifth and last patrol from 19 May to 26 July 1945, took her
into the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
The end of the Pacific war found RONQUIL off Pearl
Harbor, training for another war patrol. She returned to
San Diego in the fall of 1945 and engaged in training
exercises off the California coast.
In January 1947, RONQUIL departed San Diego for her
first peacetime western Pacific deployment. This patrol
lasted 114 days and took the submarine to Tahiti, the
Carolines, the Marianas, Japan, and the Yellow Sea. On her
return to San Diego, she resumed local operations before
beginning a 3-year period of intensive training in offensive
and antisubmarine warfare, embodying lessons learned during
World War II as well as new postwar developments.
RONQUIL entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard in May 1952
for decommissioning and "Guppy" modernization. Her hull and
sail were streamlined for greater submerged speed. She
received new, increased-capacity batteries for underwater
endurance, and a snorkel which enabled her to use her
diesels at periscope depth. New electronics, including
improved sonar and fire control systems, were installed.
RONQUIL recommissioned 16 January 1953, and on 12 June
departed for Japan. She arrived at Yokosuka before sailing
on to Tokyo 19 July to take part in the "Black Ship
Festival" commemorating Commodore Perry's opening of Japan
in 1852. Through August and September, RONQUIL participated
in antisubmarine and other operations in the waters near
Japan, this was to set the pattern for most of her later
deployments.
On 11 December 1953 RONQUIL returned to San Diego for a
year of overhaul, refresher training, Naval Reserve training
and fleet exercises. She sailed for a second western
Pacific tour on 21 March 1955, returning late in September.
The next 2 years were devoted to operations off the west
coast of the United States; on 31 July 1957, the submarine
again deployed to the Far East for 7 months.
From 3 to 7 July 1958, RONQUIL took part, with other
ships of the fleet, in an observance of the 50th anniversary
of the arrival of the "Great White Fleet" at San Francisco.
She resumed normal operations, then sailed from San Diego on
6 April 1959 for a 5-month "WestPac" deployment. During
July and August of 1960, she participated in extensive
antisubmarine exercises in the eastern Pacific with United
States and Canadian forces. In the early fall of 1961
RONQUIL again sailed for the Far East, returning in March
1962. After taking part in a demonstration of antisubmarine
operations for the national radio and television networks,
she began a period of overhaul and local operations. The
submarine departed San Diego in November 1963 for duty with
the 7th Fleet; on her return to California, she again
resumed operations off the west coast. Late in 1964 RONQUIL
began preparations for deployment to the Vietnam area. In
February 1965 she sailed for Southeast Asia and a 5-month
deployment.
In mid-1966, RONQUIL rejoined the 7th Fleet, returning
to San Diego in February 1967 for further work off the coast
of California. This was interrupted in August, when RONQUIL
provided services during the filming of the motion picture
"Ice Station Zebra."
On 26 December the submarine was again underway for
Japan. During this deployment, she took part in exercises
with United States, British, Japanese, Australian, and
Canadian forces. On 2 July 1968 RONQUIL returned to the
west coast. RONQUIL departed for the Far East 4 July 1969,
returning to San Diego on Christmas Eve.
At the end of January 1970 RONQUIL began a period of
repair and overhaul, followed by training and fleet
exercises in the eastern Pacific. August 1970 brought
another 7th Fleet deployment, which took her into the new
year. In 1971 RONQUIL continued to operate with the Pacific
Fleet.
RONQUIL earned six battle stars for World War II
service.
[RONQUIL was stricken from the US Navy Register on 1
July 1971 and transferred to Spain the same day. Renamed
ISAAC PERAL (S-32), the submarine served the Spanish Navy
until being stricken in 1982.
“Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995,” p.438.
K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of
the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.278]
Transcribed by Michael Hansen
mhansen2@home.com